Comeback at the AC corral: Defense, Mitchell lead to biggest comeback in Lady Wildcat history

Down 20 points to Anderson County with 12:38 left in the game, the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats were starring down a loss to open their District 3-AAA schedule. In search of a spark, coach Kerra Jackson instructed the girls to put on their little-practiced full-court press.

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By Robert Holder

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 29, 2012 at 6:00 AM

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 29, 2012 at 6:00 AM

CLINTON

Down 20 points to Anderson County with 12:38 left in the game, the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats were starring down a loss to open their District 3-AAA schedule. In search of a spark, coach Kerra Jackson instructed the girls to put on their little-practiced full-court press.

The rest was history, literally.

The Lady Wildcats overcame the deficit outscoring the Lady Mavericks 40-26 down the stretch to corral their second win of the season and the largest known comeback in girls basketball at ORHS.

“I told them in the locker room that this might be the best comeback I have ever been a apart of,” coach Jackson said. “Coaching and playing. We were down 20 ... we came back from 20 points. That’s impressive on any level.”

The pressure began simple enough but with time spent mostly in practice on their offensive set, Oak Ridge (2-3, 1-0 in District 3-AAA) abandoned it and went to double teaming in the backcourt on defense.

Anderson County (2-3, 0-1) was put on its heels as passes went out of bounds, walks were called, and steals were collected and distributed to Whitney Mitchell and Kendra Holmes after a timeout at 4:38 in the third quarter and ACHS leading 39-19.

“We just made a switch,” coach Jackson said. “What we were doing was not working. You could see it on their face. It was going downhill and we had to make a switch.

“We started the press and said let’s see what we can do ... the next thing you know they are getting a few steals.”

Mitchell and Holmes fed off each other flip flopping opportunities to drive to the basket and getting scores despite the tough first half.

Mitchell, the team’s leading scorer, was held scoreless until halftime and came alive scoring a career-high 29 points including 17-of-21 shooting from the free-throw line.

Anderson County as a team shot 10-of-19 at the line.

“She kind of pulled me to the side and said, ‘We are going to need you to score or else this game is over,’” Mitchell said of coach Jackson.

From there she and Holmes, who finished with 22 points, went to work offensively getting into rhythm and role of scoring points.

“At first I wasn’t comfortable with (being depended on to score), but I am now finding my way around it,” Whitney said. “Kendra is just like me. She loves to run and keep going. We kind of feed of each other.”

Added Jackson, “Those two are a massive tandem, probably one of the best tandems in the district.”

Caitlyn Ledden, Taylor Howe, Asia Anderson and Brook Anderson went to work defensively pushing it up to the offensive duo who were ahead of the pack and putting Anderson County on the line when they got near the basket.

Page 2 of 2 - The win was a big one for the team that Jackson said would hopefully carry them. Mitchell agreed.

“If we can beat Anderson County, we can beat anybody,” Mitchell said. “They have the best posts, I think, in the district.”

Anderson County was led in scoring by their post Caitlyn Cupples with 16 and Megan Ellis had eight. Guards Kayla Oglesby and Savannah Cummings had 15 and 13, respectively.

The Lady Mavs committed 15 fouls, 12 were shooting fouls, in the second half after being whistled for just four in the first. Oak Ridge was called for 16.

Oak Ridge will return to Wildcat Arena Friday to take on rival Clinton at 6 p.m. The varsity boys will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. and a boys junior varsity game will start at 4:30 p.m.